Marco Piombi is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Arcadia High School for AZPreps365.com

SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. – A strong fourth quarter performance by the Arcadia Titans secured the team’s seventh straight win in a 28-10 road victory against the Poston Butte Broncos Friday night.

The Titans entered the quarter leading 14-10, and managed to take advantage of excellent field position due to windy conditions that made it difficult to punt the ball downfield. One punt led to Arcadia starting a drive at the Poston Butte 35-yard line. 

Joseph Hala finished the short possession with a 1-yard rushing touchdown to make it 21-10 Titans with 4:41 left. The Arcadia defense managed to force a fourth-down fumble on the next possession that was recovered by the Broncos in the backfield.

Arcadia wide receiver Konnor Kammes threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Luke Powell with 2:33 left to make it 28-10 Titans. The touchdown was Powell’s first career touchdown. It was intended to be a run play, but Kammes threw the ball when he saw where Poston Butte’s defensive back was positioned.

“It was a great grab, and I love to see it,” Kammes said. “That’s my boy getting his first love.”

The Arcadia defense stepped up again by forcing a fumble and recovering it to secure the win with 1:16 left.

“We told the kids all week (that) Poston Butte plays a tough game,” Arcadia head coach B.J. Pasquel said. “They’re well coached, and they make you earn what you get.”

Pasquel was also satisfied with the way his players handled their emotions against Poston Butte after multiple personal fouls and unsportsmanlike penalties last week against Mesquite.

“We were a much smarter team,” Pasquel said. “We played more disciplined.”

The game began with the Titans’ defense forcing a three-and-out, which led to their first possession being at the Broncos’ 45-yard line. Running back Malakai Wilder finished the drive with an 8-yard rushing touchdown for the only scoring in the first quarter.

The Broncos’ special teams made many big plays in the first half of the game, which also included a punt at the start of the second quarter that pinned the Titans inside their own 1-yard line.

“We felt like special teams was a focus for us this week, and with the wind, we were able to take advantage of some situations,” Poston Butte head coach Rod Holmes said.

A bad bounce on a punt led to Poston Butte having the ball at the Titans’ 24-yard line, and the Broncos took advantage by tying the game with 6:51 left.

Later on, Poston Butte kicker Izrael Leyva nailed a 40-yard field goal that broke the 7-7 tie with 1:39 remaining in the second quarter.

The wind limited Arcadia quarterback Carter Lampe to completing just 6 out of 14 pass attempts, but that didn’t stop him from finding Kammes for another big play. Lampe completed a pass to Kammes for a 57-yard touchdown with 44 seconds remaining in the half to make it 14-10. 

“We’re getting closer and closer, and better and better,” said Lampe of his connection with Kammes.

The half ended with a sack by the Arcadia defense.

In the third quarter, no points were scored by either team. A holding penalty negated a touchdown for the Broncos, and it led to the Titans blocking a 40-yard field goal attempt.

Despite the loss, Holmes has kept his belief in the Broncos to finish the season strong.

“I want to see us go out and punch a ticket to the playoffs,” Holmes said. “I know we’re only 2-6, but we play the toughest schedule.”

For the Titans, Pasquel is approaching each game week by week.

“We like how we’re playing, and our defense is (doing) a phenomenal job,” Pasquel said. “We go one week at a time.”

The Titans are now 4-0 on the road, and 7-1 overall. They are also 3-0 in the Desert Sky region.

The Titans will look for their eighth straight win next Friday against Eastmark on the road.